Engine is very hard to start, but once in drive & moving it runs smooth

[Manny]

Wow that was a heck of a omen on that thing! Wow everything i have dug out required a rebuild of the carb and ignition to move to the edge of the driveway. With the list you have going there you will get it running smooth. Just make certain to get the points, plugs, wires, cap and rotor freshened up in the list. Congratulations and welcome to the forum!

[FullMetalEngineer]

Hello All,

I just wanted to give a quick update. I have the truck running! It idles a little rough when I first start it, I have to give it a little gas to keep it alive during the first 5-10 minutes, but once it warms up, it runs really smoothly. If you have any ideas for making it easier to stay alive while it idles when you first start it, feel free to say something!

So far done the following:

• - New battery

• - New spark plugs & wires

• - New air filter & housing

• - New electric choke carburetor (instead of hot air) & gaskets

• - New fuel filter & fuel pump

Things that I still have to do:

• - New vacuum line for vacuum advance distributor

• - New fuel line & move the fuel tank from behind the seat to below the truck or in the bed

• - New throttle linkage for carburetor (using a zip-tie currently)

• - New starter solenoid (first one I bought was a dud, gotta take it back)

• - New radiator cap

• - New breather oil cap

• - Re-route PCV from oil cap to rear-passenger valve

• - The points look good, but I'll take a little sandpaper to them anyways just to make sure

Eventually, I'd like to get a new wiring harness for it and re-do that, and I need to replace the windshield wipers, replace some of the hoses in there, and attack the engine & other components with some engine cleaner, but that's down the line.

I also finally got her exterior cleaned up (as well as can be done). Here are a few photos:

https://imgur.com/a/lwdIJ

Thank you all for your help!